It had been two months since Celina & Loretta had arrived in Rome & today was the big day of Loretta's first public speech to the citizen of Rome.
It was bad enough having to do it in front of her own citizen in Egypt but to a country of people who she didn't know very well made it a very daunting task, straightening her dress & sash, Loretta look in the mirror at her reflection, she wore a simple white dress but draped across her left shoulder was a blood red sash which was pinned to her shoulder by a silver Ten pointed star.
Her crown was a simple Gold tiara-like headband that ran around the back of her head & sat just above her ears on either side of her head. This crown, however, was a lot different than her Egyptian one it was made to look like two olive branches tied together, being decorated every so often with a small diamond or two encrusted into the 'leaves'
Her hair, however, was actually done up into a high half ponytail on her head, wrapped beautifully with red silk ribbon & small silver stars, walking towards the out balcony, Loretta stopped at the opening, standing with her eyes closed in preparation to make one of the biggest speeches in her life, feeling a soft hand on her shoulder she looked over at her younger sister who smiled at her.
"You look beautiful Losita" Selena smile slightly poking out her tongue at Loretta's new name "Thank you Selena, you ready" Loretta smile back at her sister who wore exactly what she did except her tiara was silver
"I'm ready when you are, Losita" Selena said taking her elder sisters hand & giving it a small squeeze as they walked out onto the balcony, gazing at the people below
"Good Afternoon Citizens of Rome" Loretta started as the crowd grew silent "I have an announcement that I would like to make, I know I have only been Empress for two months but due to other commitments that need to be upheld, so I am stepping down & letting my younger sister Selena take over as Empress" Loretta said as she took a step back & watched Selena take her tiara off,
"Princess Selena, do you solemnly swear to reign over the people of Rome to your best ability & to be fair & just in all circumstances" Octavian said as Selena nodded, taking Selena's tiara from her & giving it to Losita, then taking Losita's crown & gently placing it on Selenas head Octavian cleared his throat
"For the first time ever, it is absolute pleasure to introduce to you Empress Selena" Octavian said with a bow as Selena stepped forward with the crowd clapping & cheering. Placing her hand gently on Selena's back Losita looked at Selena & smiled "Well done little sister" Losita said hugging Selena
"Thank you Losita, I couldn't have done this without you, I know you miss Atem but its only a short two-day boat ride between you" Selena whispered in Losita's ear
"Thank you Selena, you will make a wonderful Empress," Losita said hugging her sister tighter "Im going to miss you"
After spending the rest of the day with her sister & new family, it was now dinner time. To celebrate the ascension of a new Queen their was a huge feast put on in her honour, eating till they were all full Losita & Selena went back to the bedroom that they shared during their visit.
Flopping down on her bed on her back Losita yawned, stretching slightly "Oh boy I'm exhausted" Loretta said letting out an embarrassing burp "Oh excuse me, sorry Sel" Loretta blushed
"Excuse you is right, Loretta! I think you had too much wine" Selena giggled "and to think you are the Queen of a Pharaoh," she said rolling her eyes
"I think you are the one who has too much wine Selena, I am already a Queen so I dont have such a reputation to uphold, you on the other hand, baby sister are the new Queen so you will have to learn to behave yourself" Loretta teased as she walked over to where her sister was laying down & began tickling her
"Loretta...N-no...please stop...L-Loretta...I-I cant take t-this anymore," Selena said through her giggle fit "Sorry little sister I'm not giving up this time, you are at the mercy of Queen Loretta" Loretta mock evil laughed as she continued to tickle her sister.
"Please your Majesty,...I'm sorry...I surrender" Selena begged as her sister towered over her "Most honourable & beautiful Queen, please accept my sincerest apology" Selena grovelled
"Selena, please dont, I'm your sister" Loretta scolded "Sorry Loretta, I was only having abit of fun" Selena said looking sheepish "Its ok but dont forget we are equals now, two Queens that also have to be up early in the morning" Loretta giggled as she walked back over to her bed & flopped down
"Hey, Loretta..." Selena said as she wriggled down into her bed "Yeah Selena" Loretta said dozily as her eyes began to grow heavy "Thank you for being here for me, I have learnt so much from you, you are the best big sister in the world, love you 'retta" Selena said with a smile & a yawn as she began to drift off to sleep
"I love you too Sel, you are the best little sister a girl could have, night baby sis" Loretta said as she too began to drift off
The next morning at dawn it was time for Loretta to get on the boat to go back to Egypt, standing on the pier with her, Nefetari, Octavian & Selena all smiled as she started to walk up the gangplank & onto the boat "Bye Loretta, we are going to miss you" Nefetari called "Bye Auntie 'tari, please come & visit one day when you are back in Egypt, im sure Atem will want to meet you" Loretta called as she sat down
"Goodbye my beautiful niece, I'm so happy to have seen you again, please say hello to your husband for me" Octavian called as the boat started to pull away
"Bye big Sis & thank you for everything, say hello to Auntie Rosetta for me please" she said with a big wave, as Loretta waved back a lone tear rolled down her face "Goodbye my family, i will miss you but im finally going home" Loretta said to herself with a small sigh as she turned to watch her family who was stood on the pier getting smaller & smaller.
After two long lonely days of sailing, Egypt was now in sight, seeing the roof of the Palace rising up on the horizon a large smile grew on Loretta's face, she was finally home, her real home. As she stood at the bow of the boat Loretta spotted a very familiar face "Seto" Loretta whispered
Standing on the pier, waving sheepishly Seto blushed when the boat docked as she stepped off, locking his deep blue eyes with her Sapphire ones "Your Majesty..." he bowed "Its so lovely to see you again, my Queen"
"Did you get sent to pick me up" Loretta questioned giving Seto a small hug making Seto blush even more "Um yes, even though I still have Ten more months of service in the temple, the Pharaoh allowed me to come & get you, he was in a very important meeting when I left"
"Oh, I hope Atem's not grumpy when I get home, those meetings can make him pretty cranky" Loretta giggled "He has had two other meetings today, one early this morning & then another about two hours after that" Seto sighed
"Seto, is everything ok?" Loretta asked putting her hand on his shoulder as his horse trotted along "Its ok, your Majesty, I-I...I just miss being in those meetings, it was always my job as the Pharaohs cousin & High priest to keep him from getting stressed & comfort him while you weren't there" Seto said with a sad smile
"I can see that you feel sorry for what you have done & because of that maybe I will have a talk to Atem to get you back into his royal court" Loretta smiled as Seto gapped
"Wow, do you mean that, but I still have Ten more months of service to complete?" Seto said looking over at Loretta in shock "Yes I do, I can see you learnt your lesson so maybe until your Ten months are up you could come back as a lower ranked Royal court member" Loretta beamed
Coming through the gates of the palace Loretta sighed contently, leaning on Seto's back, feeling the warmth of Loretta's body on his back Seto blushed "Are you ok, your highness?" Seto asked with slight concern
"Im ok Seto, Im just so happy to be home, I have missed this palace & Atem of course, so much," Loretta said as she sat up seeing that Seto was nearing the stables & Ramses was waiting to take his horse
"Good afternoon your Majesty, did you enjoy your trip?" Ramses asked as he put his hand out for her to take to help her down, taking his hand & slipping down off the back of Seto's horse Loretta gave Ramses a hug "Ive missed you Ra" Loretta said smiling happily
"Oh, ah...Thank you, your Majesty" Ramses said as a deep red blush spread across his face "I-I missed you too", letting go of Ramses & smiling at both him & Seto, Loretta headed towards the palace & up to her chambers
Getting to her chambers Loretta sighed happily at the pleasant smell of Atem that hit her but oddly enough he wasn't even in the room, putting her bag down, Loretta flopped down on the bed & slowly closed her eyes "I think I'll just have a small sleep & maybe by then Atem...will come...back" Loretta thought to herself as she started to drift off
Curling up like a small kitten on the end of the bed Loretta went to sleep but wasn't asleep long when she felt soft fingertips caressing her cheek. Slowly opening her eyes, Loretta's sapphire orbs were met by two glistening rubies "Atem..." Loretta whispered as a small smile spread across her face
"Ive missed you Loretta" Atem said with a smile as she began to rise up from the bed & wrap her arms around her husband "I'm so sorry I left you the way I did" Loretta said as her eyes began to water
"Its ok, I know you had to go & learn about your past from your real family, I love you Loretta & even though now I know you are Roman & not Egyptian I will not love you any less" Atem said in a soothing voice
"I actually have a very funny story to tell you, but first let me ask you, do you know who your Grandparents are?" Loretta said with a sniff as she pulled back from Atem & smiled
"What do you mean funny, Loretta" Atem asked raising an eyebrow "Um well...No I dont, my Father never spoke of GrandFather, why?"
"You know how when we first met we felt like we had a stronger bond than what most people do..." Loretta started as Atem tilted his head to the side as he listened to Loretta tell him of what her Uncle Octavian had told her, getting to the end of her story Atem couldn't believe his ears, he sat staring at Loretta with his mouth wide open in total disbelief
"A-are you s-sure that w-what you are t-telling me is t-true, I cant believe it, you are actually my cousin...Who else knows" he finished in a whisper
"Only you & Selena know, no one else. I'm your third cousin actually but its not going to change anything between us is it?" Loretta asked looking slightly concerned as she watched Atem's expression change from shock to something that was completely unreadable.
Looking down Atem sat in complete & utter silence with his lips pursed, playing with his wedding ring. After a few moments of silence Atem exhaled through his nose in a loud sigh & softly shook his head "Nothing is going to change between us Loretta, I'm sorry for being so silent for so long but it is a lot for me to process" Atem said as he looked up with a small smile on his face
"Maybe I shouldn't have told you so much all at once but I know in my heart that I will always love you, my life changed so much the day I met you & I know I tell you that a lot but I mean it & I want you to know that" Loretta said as she cupped his cheek, giving him a soft chaste kiss
"Im happy that I have found out about my Grandparents & how close our two families actually are..." he said with a chuckle "But to be honest with you Loretta, I feel kinda strange, I don't know how to explain it but I do love you & always will, no matter what" Atem finished taking her hands in his
Leaning in so that their foreheads were touching, Loretta smiled "I'm so happy to be home & to be back with you..." Loretta said as kissing the top of his hand "My Pharaoh"
Letting go of Loretta's hands & pushing her down gently onto her back, Atem crawled over to Loretta gazing down at her "Im happy that you are home as well " he said nuzzling his nose into her neck
"I have missed you so much Atem, way more than words can express," she said wrapping her arms around his neck & pulling him down on top of her & kissing his cheek "kiss me, Ate' " she whispered in his ear
Pulling up from her Atem smirked, "As you wish my Queen" he whispered as he began trailing soft kisses down her neck & chest, making Loretta softly moan.
Sitting up from his straddled position over Loretta so he could get his breath back, Atem smiled down at his wife & then proceeded to take his shirt off "What happened to you Atem" Loretta said as she looked at Atem with widened eyes at the bandages wrapped around his chest
"Its ok I haven't been hurt I just have a surprise for you, I had it done while you were away, I wasn't going to show it to you until our wedding anniversary...but" he said as he started to unwrap the bandages from around the top part of his chest
"I actually have a surprise for you too, but i'll let you go first" Loretta smirked as Atem finished unwrapping his chest "Its still abit sore but I had this done for you" he smiled as he turned around showing her the two sets of hieroglyphics written down his left shoulder
"Aww Atem, that is beautiful but what does it say" Loretta asked tilting her head to the side & trying to read it
"I thought about what you said the day you left & so that is what I had tattooed onto my back* " he said looking over his shoulder at Loretta
"Thank you Atem, that is very sweet" Loretta said as she kissed the tattoo & Atem chuckled "so what is your news Loretta," Atem asked with a smirk "Well...Im sorry for not telling you this before I left but in three months we will have our fourth child" Loretta said with a smile as she gently rubbing her stomach
"Wow, Loretta, is this true, are we really having another baby" Atem said putting his hand on top of Loretta's & looking up at her "I had one of my uncle's medics check me out & she thought that would be having a boy" Loretta said kissing him softly
"So I'm going to be a Father again, now we will have to come up with a name for our new Prince" Atem said as he went back to caressing Loretta's stomach liking the sounds she was making "that feels really nice but just be careful because the baby has been very active recently & he just might..." Loretta said as she was cut of by Atem chuckling from having his hand kicked "Kick you" Loretta giggled
"He's a feisty little fella ain't he" Atem said as he chuckled again, "I think he's only being this active because his Father is around & is encouraging him" Loretta growled lightly before giggling again
"Im sorry Loretta, I can stop now if you dont want your stomach rubbed anymore," Atem said sadly "Its ok you can continue doing that but just dont touch Alexander's feet when he puts them up" Loretta smiled & the put her hand over her mouth
"So you have already come up with a name..." Atem smirked "when did this happen" "I honestly just came up with it, but I didnt mean to call him it, I wanted it to be a surprise, do you not like the name" Loretta smiled sheepishly & then tilted her head to look at Atem
"I do like the name actually, how did you come up with it" Atem said tilting his head the other way to look at Loretta "Well since my origins are Roman & Egyptian, I thought Alexander would be the perfect name but I haven't thought of a middle name yet" Loretta frowned
Gently rubbing her back Atem smiled "Its ok, we still another three months yet, in the meantime why don't you lay down & I will give you a message to help you sleep, you look exhausted," Atem said cupping her cheek in his hand
"It was that long boat ride that wore me out so a nice relaxing massage should get me to sleep pretty quick" Loretta yawned as she laid down & Atem started working on her back
As Atem massaged her back Loretta's eyes slowly slipped shut letting her drift off into a deep sleep, noticing that his Queen was sound asleep Atem gently kissed her temple & then quietly slipped out the door & back to the throne room where another meeting was due to be held.
As he approached the throne room door Atem looked back towards his chambers & smiled "Sleep well Loretta, I love you so much & I will see you in the morning" Atem thought to himself as he straightened his crown & strode proudly into the throne room.
*FYI: Atem's Tattoo said 'My Heart & Soul. Loretta'